Premium – Dan’s Random Thoughts on TC

Cortland – Some random thoughts from JC publisher Dan Leberfeld, looking back at Jets’ training camp. Here are some of his takeaways from Cortland . . .

Jets got great weather up in Central New York. There were no real brutal heat days the entire camp.

But you have to wonder if the lack of heat might hurt some guys conditioning a little. We will see . . .

I think the Jets made the right hire in bringing in Marty Mornhinweg as offensive coordinator.

I think he does a good job of playing to his players’ strengths.

Let’s say Mark Sanchez is the starting quarterback. I think Marty will do a better job than the previous two coordinators at dialing up better first and second reads to fit Mark’s mindset and skillset.

Let’s be honest, Mark isn’t going to get to his third or fourth read very often. It’s just not something he’s great at. So having a coordinator like Morhinweg, who is very solid at dialing up good first and second reads will be a big help to Sanchez . . .

This is 100 percent Rex’s defense. He totally controlled everything related to the defense on the practice field in Cortland.

Rex clearly knows this is a huge year for him, and he’s pouring his heart and soul into this defense, and do everything he can to make them play on a high level . . .

Speaking of Rex’s defense. He has to be salivating over his three stud defensive linemen at his disposable – Mo Wilkerson, Quinton Coples and Sheldon Richardson, who all flashed this summer. Richardson still has a lot to learn, but even during the learning process, he made a lot of plays in the backfield with his amazing quickness for a big guy.

Wilkerson seems poised for a Pro Bowl year.

Coples, moving between OLB and DE, also seems prepared to take a quantum leap in Year Two.

The Jets should be able to make a lot of good things happen up front with these three . . .

Staying on the topic of the defensive line, nose tackle Kenrick Ellis continues to have the same issues – his pad level is too high, he’s on the ground too much, and he’s handled by one blocker way too often.

I think when it comes to Ellis, Rex is loyal to the point of defiance.

I just don’t see it . . .

One of the big disappointments for the Jets’ brass had to be the knee injury to Brian Winters early in the Green-and-White scrimmage.

He’s hardly practiced since.

This is really bad for his maturation process.

Remember, he’s a college offensive tackle attempting to make the transition to NFL offensive guard.

He needed every rep he could get.

And he ended up getting very few reps due to the injury.

So when he does come back, he’s going to have to continue from where he left off in his learning process.

Remember, Mo Wilkerson was making Winters life miserable in practice before the injury.

I saw Winters run the other day, and he didn’t look good. He was hobbling.

So with Winters still hurt, it looks like Stephen Peterman will be the starting left guard.

As you can see in the photo, he’s not the most athletic guy, but he’s a seasoned pro, who can do a serviceable job.

But you definitely got the sense, early in camp, the Jets wanted Winters, who is bigger and more athletic than Peterman, to win the job.

However the injury put a wrench in those plans.

August 16, 2013

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